X-Ray Panel Conduit

ABSTRACT

A panel segment is provided for a multipart patient supporting panel, with a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, which extends at least over a partial region of the support panel. In order that the connecting lines cannot be seen as troublesome shading on x-ray images, the at least one connecting line is configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel. A patient supporting panel and an operating table with such a panel segment are also provided.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to European application number 06 021 191.9, filed on Oct. 10, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a panel segment for a multipart patient supporting panel, the panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, which extends at least over a partial region of the support panel. The invention is also directed to a patient supporting panel for supporting a patient, with a number of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, as well as to an operating table with a support column, which supports such a patient supporting panel.

BACKGROUND

Patient supporting panels serve for supporting a patient, in particular during medical treatments and examinations, for example during the examination of a patient by means of x-rays. The patient supporting panel is in this case of a multipart form and comprises a number of panel segments which are pivotable in relation to one another in a motorized manner. The panel segments can, for example, be pivoted about pivot axes aligned transversely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the patient supporting panel. Electric motors that are connected to electrical connecting lines, namely signal and supply lines, are used for adjusting the panel segments. The panel segments comprise a support panel, which is formed such that it is transparent to x-rays. At least one panel segment additionally has at least one electrical connecting line, which extends at least over a partial region of the support panel. In an x-ray examination, the connecting lines get in the way of the path of the x-rays. This leads to troublesome shading on the x-ray images.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure features a panel segment in which the at least one connecting line is configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel, so that the connecting line(s) cannot be seen as troublesome shading on x-ray images.

The inventors have found that troublesome shading on x-ray images caused by electrical connecting lines can be avoided by the attenuation of the x-rays that is caused by the at least one conductor configured in strip form differing only slightly from the attenuation that is caused in any case by the support panel. The conductor is therefore of a very thin but at the same time relatively wide form, so that the cross section of the conductor corresponds at least to the otherwise required cable cross section of a connecting line configured in the form of an electric cable. On account of the configuration in strip form, the shading in the x-ray image that is caused by the conductor either cannot be seen at all or at least cannot be seen in a troublesome form.

The panel segment disclosed herein is distinguished by an attenuation of the x-rays that remains virtually the same over the entire region of the support panel. The material of the support panel usually has a relatively low attenuation for x-rays. In order to compensate for the slightly greater attenuation that the x-rays experience through the conductor, the conductor is disposed in a recess in the support panel, i.e. the support panel has a lesser material thickness at the level of the conductor than in a region in which no conductor is disposed. The influence of the conductor on the attenuation of the x-rays can consequently be compensated by choice of the depth of the recess and the thickness, i.e. the material thickness, of the conductor.

It is of advantage if the thickness, i.e. the material thickness, of the conductor and the depth of the recess are chosen such that x-rays that penetrate the panel segment at the level of the conductor undergo the same effective attenuation as x-rays that penetrate the panel segment laterally alongside the conductor. In the case of such a configuration, the influence of the conductor on the attenuation of the x-rays is completely compensated, so that no shading caused by the conductors can be seen on an x-ray image.

The at least one conductor is preferably produced from a metal, in particular from a metal with a low x-ray attenuation coefficient, for example from an aluminum material. Metal is distinguished by high electrical conductivity, so that electrical signals and electrical energy to be supplied to an electric motor can be effectively transmitted over the conductor. If a metal with a low x-ray attenuation coefficient is used, the conductor can be of a relatively thick configuration, without this leading to any significant shading on an x-ray image. Conductors of aluminum have proven to be particularly advantageous.

In the case of a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the at least one conductor is at most 0.5 mm. In particular, it may be provided that the thickness of the at least one conductor is about 0.1 mm.

In the case of a preferred embodiment, the width of the at least one conductor is a multiple of its thickness, in particular at least ten times, for example fifty to one hundred times, its thickness. A great width has the advantage that the conductor can have a great cross section, so that electrical signals and electrical supply energy can be transmitted with only very small losses.

The support panel is preferably produced from a plastics material, in particular from a fiber-reinforced plastics material. It may, for example, be provided that the support panel is produced from a plastics material reinforced by means of cellulose fibers. So, for example, a plastics material based on thermocuring resins that is homogeneously reinforced with cellulose fibers may be used.

It is advantageous if the panel segment has a number of strip conductors that are disposed alongside one another and do not overlap one another. Disposing the conductors in such a way that they do not overlap ensures in a structurally simple manner that x-rays that pass through the panel segment experience an attenuation that remains the same as much as possible. However, it is also possible in principle to dispose a number of conductors such that they overlap one another. It is then advantageous to choose the material thickness of the support panel to be particularly small in the region of overlap of the conductors, so that the greater attenuation that the x-rays experience in the region of overlap of the conductors is compensated by a particularly low attenuation in the region of the support panel above and/or below the region of overlap.

In the case of a particularly preferred configuration of the panel segment, the attenuation of x-rays that penetrate the panel segment in the region between two conductors is just as great as the attenuation that the x-rays experience when they penetrate the panel segment at the level of a conductor. This can be achieved for example by a material that is not electrically conductive but attenuates x-rays to the same degree as the conductors being disposed in the region between two conductors. Alternatively, it may be provided that the support panel has a greater thickness (material thickness) in the region between two conductors than in the region of the conductors.

In the case of an advantageous embodiment, the conductors are disposed alongside one another with edges aligned with one another. This makes it possible to dispense with a material between the conductors that attenuates the x-rays to the same degree as the conductors. Rather, the conductors as a whole form a surface area of constant thickness, so that the x-rays experience a constant attenuation over the region of the conductors.

The conductors are preferably disposed in different planes. For example, it may be provided that at least one conductor is disposed in a first plane and at least one second conductor is disposed in a second plane. Adjacent conductors are aligned with their mutually facing edges aligned with one another and are each disposed in a recess in the support panel.

It is advantageous if the support panel is configured as a multilayer panel, at least two layers having recesses in each of which a conductor is disposed. The support panel may, for example, comprise an upper support panel layer and a lower support panel layer, the upper support panel layer having recesses on the underside and the lower support panel layer having recesses on the upper side and a conductor being disposed in each of said recesses.

The recesses of the support panel are preferably formed as U-shaped grooves.

The conductors may have different widths. So, for example, conductors over which electrical signals are transmitted may have a lesser width than conductors over which an electric motor is supplied with electrical energy.

It is of particular advantage if the conductors are respectively enclosed by an electrically insulating material. A polyester material may be used, for example, as the insulating material. By means of the enclosure, an electrical short circuit between mutually adjacent conductors can be avoided in a structurally simple manner.

In the case of a preferred embodiment, the panel segment has at least one electric motor and an pivotable joint which is coupled with the electric motor and is adapted to be connected to a further panel segment. With the aid of the electric motor, the joint can, for example, be pivoted, and energy and signals can be supplied to the electric motor over the at least one strip conductor.

It is particularly advantageous if the panel segment has two electric motors, each of which is coupled to an pivotable joint and are connected to each other by means of the at least one strip conductor. One of the two electric motors may be connected to a control and energy supply device by means of an electric cable which runs outside the panel segment, and the other electric motor may be connected to the first electric motor by means of the at least one conductor.

As already explained, the present disclosure relates not only to a panel segment of the aforementioned type but also to a patient supporting panel with a number of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, at least one panel segment being formed in the way explained above.

The present disclosure also relates to an operating table with a support column, which supports such a patient supporting panel. It is advantageous if the patient supporting panel can be detachably connected to the support column. This provides the possibility of detaching the patient supporting panel from the support column and, for example, placing it on a trolley.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an operating table with a multipart patient supporting panel;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the operating table from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged plan view of a first embodiment of a panel segment of the patient supporting panel from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the panel segment from FIG. 3 along the line 4-4 and

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of a panel segment corresponding to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an operating table 10 is schematically represented, with a height-adjustable support column 12, on which a patient supporting panel 14 is mounted. The patient supporting panel 14 comprises a number of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, in the form of a base segment 16, an upper back segment 18 and a head segment 20 as well as a pelvis segment 22 and left and right leg segments 24 and 25. The upper back segment 18 adjoins a first side 27 of the base segment 16 in the longitudinal direction of the patient supporting panel 14, and the head segment 20 adjoins the upper back segment 18. The second side 28 of the base segment 16, the side remote from the upper back segment 18, is adjoined by the pelvis segment 22, which supports the two leg segments 24 and 25 on its side remote from the base segment 16. The leg segments 24 and 25 are pivotable about a common pivot axis 30 (FIG. 2), aligned perpendicularly in relation to the longitudinal direction of the patient supporting panel 14. For this purpose, the pelvis segment 22 has a first electric motor 31 and a second electric motor 32 (FIG. 3). This is clear from FIG. 3, which shows an enlarged plan view of the pelvis segment 22. Each of the two electric motors 31 and 32 is coupled to a joint 34 and 35 that is configured to allow the position of the respective leg segment 24 or 25 relative to the pelvis segment 22 to be adjusted. The joints 34 and 35 may be pivoted by the electric motors 31 and 32 about the pivot axis 30 and respectively accommodate a connecting part 37 and 38 of the leg segments 24 and 25. The leg segments 24 and 25 can be pivoted by means of the connecting parts 37 and 38 in accordance with the joints 34 and 35.

The two electric motors 31 and 32 are disposed on a support panel 40 of the pelvis segment 22 and electrically connected to one another by means of three conductors 41, 42, 43. The conductors 41, 42, 43 are disposed parallel to and at a spacing from one another and run transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the patient supporting panel 14. They are respectively disposed in a recess in the support panel 40 in the form of a U-shaped groove 45, 46 and 47, disposed on the underside (FIG. 4). Also connected to the second electric motor 32 is a multicore electric cable 49, which runs outside the patient supporting panel 14 and can be connected to a control and energy supply unit that is integrated into the support column 12. Such a control and energy supply unit is known per se and is therefore not represented in the drawing. From the control and energy supply unit, control signals and electrical energy can be transmitted over the electric cable 49 to the second electric motor 32, from which the signals and the energy can be fed to the first electric motor 31 over the conductors 41, 42, 43.

The support panel 40 is produced from a plastics material, for example from a material based on thermocuring resins that is homogeneously reinforced with cellulose fibers. The conductors 41, 42 and 43 are produced from an aluminum material. The thickness of the conductors is about 0.1 mm, whereas their width is a multiple of their thickness, for example about 5 mm.

As becomes clear in particular from FIG. 4, on account of the grooves 45, 46, 47 formed in it, the material thickness of the support panel is less at the level of the conductors 41, 42, 43 than in the region between the conductors 41, 42, 43 and laterally alongside the conductors 41, 42, 43. Laterally alongside the conductors and between the conductors, the support panel 40 has a thickness t1. The depth of the groove is t2. The groove depth t2 and the overall thickness t1 are chosen such that x-rays that penetrate the pelvis segment 22 at the level of the conductors 41, 42, 43 experience virtually the same attenuation as x-rays that penetrate the pelvis segment 22 in a region laterally alongside the conductors 41, 42, 43. The corresponding x-rays are schematically symbolized in FIG. 4 by the arrows 51 and 52.

If a patient resting on the patient supporting panel 14 is subjected to a diagnostic x-ray examination in the region of the pelvis segment 22, the x-ray image does not show any shading caused by the conductors 41, 42 or 43. Rather, on account of the choice of the thickness t1 and the groove depth t2 as well as the thickness of the conductors 41, 42, 43, a constant radiographic attenuation, i.e. attenuation of the x-rays, is ensured over the entire region of the support panel 40.

In FIG. 5, an alternative configuration of a pelvis segment, provided overall with the reference 60, is represented. This is formed in a largely identical manner to the pelvis segment 22 described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. As a difference from the pelvis segment 22, the pelvis segment 60 has a support panel 62, which is configured as a multilayer panel and comprises an upper support panel layer 63 and a lower support panel layer 64. The upper support panel layer 63 has on the underside two grooves 66, 67, which are respectively formed in a U-shaped manner and are disposed parallel to each other. Disposed in each of the grooves 66 and 67 is a strip conductor 68 and 69, which is enclosed by an electrically insulating material, for example a polyester material, not represented in the drawing.

The lower support panel layer 64 has on the upper side, that is to say toward the upper support panel layer 63, two spaced-apart U-shaped grooves 71 and 72, in which there is respectively disposed a conductor 73 and 74, which is enclosed by an electrically insulating material, preferably a polyester material, not represented in the drawing. As becomes clear from FIG. 5, the conductors 68, 69, 73 and 74 are disposed alongside one another with edges aligned with one another, i.e. the edge 76 of the conductor 68 that is toward the conductor 73 is in line with the edge 77 of the conductor 73, the edge 78 of the conductor 73 that is toward the conductor 69 is in line with the edge 79 of the conductor 69 and the edge 80 of the conductor 69 that is toward the conductor 74 is in line with the edge 81 of the conductor 74. The two conductors 68 and 69 are disposed here in a first plane 83 and the two conductors 73 and 74 are disposed in a second plane 84, which runs parallel to the first plane 83.

On account of their edges being aligned with one another, the conductors 68, 73, 69 and 74 directly adjoin one another transversely in relation to the direction of the irradiation of the x-rays, without overlapping one another. This has the consequence that the conductors 68, 73, 69 and 74 form a homogeneous surface with respect to x-rays that penetrate the pelvis segment 60.

The material thickness of the upper support panel layer 63 and the groove depth of the grooves 66 and 67 are formed in a way corresponding to the configuration of the support panel 40 explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The material thickness of the upper support panel layer 63 laterally alongside the conductors 68 and 69 is therefore chosen such that penetrating x-rays experience a constant attenuation, irrespective of whether they merely penetrate the material of the upper support panel layer 63 or also the conductors 68 or 69. The material thickness and the groove depth of the lower support panel layer 64 are chosen in a corresponding way. This has the consequence that it is also the case with the embodiment represented in FIG. 5 that x-rays experience a uniform attenuation, irrespective of whether or not they encounter a conductor. Consequently, no troublesome shading is produced by the conductors 68, 69 and 73, 74 on an x-ray image. 

1. A panel segment for a multipart patient supporting panel, the panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel, and at least one electrical connecting line, which extends at least over a partial region of the support panel, wherein the at least one connecting line is configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel.
 2. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the at least one conductor and the depth of the recess are chosen such that x-rays that penetrate the panel segment at the level of the conductor undergo the same effective attenuation as x-rays that penetrate the panel segment laterally alongside the at least one conductor.
 3. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor is produced from a metal.
 4. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor is produced from an aluminum material.
 5. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the at least one conductor is at most 0.5 mm.
 6. A panel segment according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the at least one conductor is about 0.1 mm.
 7. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the width of the at least one conductor is a multiple of its thickness.
 8. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the support panel is produced from a plastics material.
 9. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the panel segment has a number of strip conductors that are disposed alongside one another and do not overlap one another.
 10. A panel segment according to claim 9, wherein the attenuation of x-rays that penetrate the panel segment in the region between two conductors is substantially equal to the attenuation that the x-rays experience when they penetrate the panel segment at the level of a conductor.
 11. A panel segment according to claim 9, wherein the conductors are disposed with edges of the conductors aligned with one another.
 12. A panel segment according to claim 9, wherein the conductors are disposed in a plurality of planes.
 13. A panel segment according to claim 9, wherein the support panel is configured as a multilayer panel, comprising at least two support panel layers, each layer having one or more recess(es) in each of which a conductor is disposed.
 14. A panel segment according to claim 9, wherein the conductors have different widths.
 15. A panel segment according to claim 9, wherein the conductors are respectively enclosed by an electrically insulating material.
 16. A panel segment according to claim 1, wherein the panel segment has at least one electric motor and a pivotable joint, the joint being coupled with the electric motor and adapted to be connected to a further panel segment.
 17. A panel segment according to claim 16, wherein the panel segment has two electric motors, each of which is coupled to a pivotable joint, the motors being connected to each other by means of the at least one strip conductor.
 18. A patient supporting panel for supporting a patient, comprising a plurality of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, at least one panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, the connecting line extending at least over a partial region of the support panel and being configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel.
 19. An operating table comprising a support column, and supported by the support column, a patient supporting panel configured to support a patient, comprising a plurality of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, at least one panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, the connecting line extending at least over a partial region of the support panel and being configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel.
 20. An operating table of claim 19 wherein the patient supporting panel is releasably mounted on the support column.
 21. A method of examining a patient by means of x-rays, the method comprising: providing a patient supporting panel comprising a plurality of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, at least one panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, the connecting line extending at least over a partial region of the support panel and being configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel; positioning the patient on the patient supporting panel; and causing x-rays to pass through a portion of the patient supported by the radiotransparent support panel. 